00:00Way for the land of the free and the home of the brave.
00:38Thanks for joining us here on 2K Sports for NBA Basketball.
00:43This is Kevin Harlan.
00:44I'll be joined by Greg Anthony, Tim Legler, and we'll be hearing from our reporter,
00:49Allie LaForest, in the sidelines as well.
00:52Look at the San Antonio Spurs opening line.
00:55Half the guard spots we'll be seeing Fox and Castle.
00:58In at the forward spot, we'll see Vassell and Champagny.
01:02And it's Wembenyama in at the 5, patrolling the pace.
01:06And for the Clippers, the pair up front, it's Hachimura and Lopez.
01:11Hagler out there with Darius Starling.
01:14And it's Ingram in at the 3.
01:15And nothing better than a rivalry game, Tim.
01:18You can definitely say there's history between these two teams.
01:22Well, being in the same conference helps.
01:25They see each other a lot, and that creates a feel of electricity whenever they meet.
01:32Now, here's Garland.
01:35Let's the 3 fly.
01:37Rebounded by Victor Wembenyama.
01:48And Benyama outside.
01:53Over Lopez.
01:55And Benyama gets the bucket.
01:57Showing he's more than just an interior threat.
02:00When Benyama also possesses that reliable jump shot.
02:04Here's the Clippers.
02:07Pass to Lopez.
02:14Victor Wembenyama grabs the rebound.
02:20Castle with it.
02:23Wembenyama high post.
02:25Out to Castle.
02:30Launches it.
02:32And it's the Clippers with the rebound.
02:38Now, here's Garland.
02:41In low.
02:44And the call on the shot that sends in to the line.
02:49Legs in the Wild West.
02:51The Spurs have thrown their hat in the ring.
02:53Well, you know, Kevin, when OKC won their title, it looked like they were going to be in that spot
02:58for a long time.
02:59We wonder, who in the West could give them a run for their money?
03:03Well, we have the answer.
03:04It's the San Antonio Spurs.
03:06They are for real.
03:08Greg, the Clippers, retooling their roster towards youth.
03:11Yeah, trading hard for Darius Garland, who's over a decade younger, turning Zubac into the fifth pick, their highest since
03:19Blake Griffin.
03:20Kawhi back to the Raptors.
03:22Now, they've got a little more runway.
03:25And the basket by Vassell.
03:27Just too easy for Vassell.
03:30Got to run him off the line.
03:35Here's Ingram.
03:36Lopez, a screen on Vassell.
03:39Ingram with it.
03:40And it's Vassell picking him up.
03:41And that one's good, Ingram.
03:43And this is the attack mindset you want to see coming into the game.
03:48You knew they were going to be aggressive, and now you see them executing that.
03:54Here's Champagny.
03:55Panhatsunera with a clear path to the rack.
03:58And denied.
03:59He sends it right off the glass.
04:03Pass to Wembenyama from D3 point land.
04:10And just under two and a half minutes elapsed here in the first.
04:14A fader.
04:15And a couple of nice buckets all ready for him.
04:18He's two for two.
04:20And Wembenyama's ability to pick and pop from anywhere on the floor puts defenders on their heels.
04:26And now, let's swing it over to Allie LaForce on the sideline.
04:30Tyron Lue gave me a few minutes to catch up with him.
04:32When I brought up how they were going to slow down Victor Wembenyama, coach just laughed at me.
04:36He said the dude is nine feet tall, shoots it, lights out.
04:39And he has exceptional handles.
04:41What do you want us to do?
04:43I think that thoroughly answers the question.
04:45Kevin, back to you.
04:46We appreciate it, Allie.
04:48Now, here's Vassell.
04:51Darius Garland missing his last shot.
04:53I'll tell you what, that was one heck of a shot from Tess.
04:56He didn't quite get a hand on it, but he did enough to affect the miss.
05:01Oh, Victor Wembenyama says, not this time.
05:08Moves back up.
05:11Lopez passes to Ingram.
05:13Block at six.
05:15Over Castle.
05:16And that one's good.
05:18Ingram.
05:19Ingram's got his second bucket of the game to go.
05:21Well, that's a beautiful mid-range jumper that time by Ingram.
05:25Totally under control.
05:30And here in the first quarter, with a little over three and a half minutes played.
05:33Three-pointer.
05:34And there's Castle on the assist by Fox.
05:43Clippers trail by four.
05:49Here's Wander.
05:50Still scoreless.
05:52Blocked!
05:53Wembenyama!
05:55Batted away by Wembenyama with authority.
05:57Victor saw that coming a mile away.
06:17Garland dishes to Ingram.
06:22Pass to Lopez.
06:24Down to five on the shot clock.
06:26The Clippers need to get off a shot.
06:28The 17-footer.
06:30What a great defense.
06:31Vassell is so versatile.
06:33And he's a player who can guard all five positions.
06:39Garland against Castle.
06:42Fox passes to Wembenyama.
06:47Ojam Penny.
06:54Lopez with the block.
06:56And we have seen Lopez really improve his shot blocking.
07:00Adept at using that limb to alter shots.
07:03And it's amazing.
07:05Well, he's a guy they look to go to, and now you see why.
07:09And it's Bucs with the ball for San Antonio.
07:15Pass to Champagny.
07:20A sell against Garland.
07:22A sell against Garland.
07:23Castle with the bounce pass.
07:25Here's Wembenyama.
07:27He cans the 12-footer.
07:29Wembenyama has got six.
07:31It's easy to get a good look for mid-range when you tower above everyone.
07:36Wembenyama.
07:40A sell against Ingram.
07:43And the duck by Hatsumura.
07:44This guy is a high flyer.
07:48I mean, especially for a power forward.
07:50And he needs to be as an undersized player.
07:52And so Mitch Johnson decides to call timeout.
07:55He's going to take a few moments here to check in with his team and regroup.
08:00Derrick Jones, he's checked in for Los Angeles.
08:03San Antonio also making a switch.
08:05Harris has checked in.
08:06And throughout his career, Brandon Ingram has played a variety of roles.
08:11Yeah, well, there's no question about it.
08:13Some years he's been more of a facilitator.
08:15But for me, what sets him apart, this guy is a flat-out bucket good.
08:20The Clippers trail.
08:23Pass to Garland.
08:32That's a floater go.
08:33That's tipped.
08:34And they get it back.
08:39Ingram deciding where to go with it.
08:41Enchanted shot.
08:43Some solid defense from Harris.
08:45That's a surprise.
08:46I mean, really out of character for him to miss when the defense is not right up on it.
08:53In the corner, Castle with it.
08:59Pass to Champagny.
09:04Castle outside.
09:07Shoots over Ingram.
09:10San Antonio.
09:11San Antonio.
09:36San Antonio will retain possession.
09:37Los Angeles making a switch here.
09:40Dunn's checked in.
09:40Then for the Spurs.
09:42Luke Cornett.
09:43He's checked in for Wembenyama.
09:45Vassell comes in for Julian Champagny.
09:48And it's Dylan Harper in for De'Aaron Fox.
09:52Again, the miss by the Spurs.
09:55Los Angeles has gone 0-2 from D.P.
09:58Here's Jones.
09:59That's in.
10:00Coming off an assist from Dunn.
10:02Jones has got it all tied up now for the Clippers.
10:05Every coach in this league loves assisted baskets.
10:09It indicates your offense is flowing the way it's supposed to.
10:16Now, Cornett.
10:17Nice ball movement by San Antonio.
10:23Harper against Jones.
10:27The Spurs need to get a shot off here.
10:30And a basket by Castle.
10:32Now, that's a heads-up play by Castle to get that one off in time.
10:37The Clippers shooting 33% here in the first quarter.
10:43Castle against Garland.
10:47And it's going to be out of bounds.
10:49The Spurs will take it.
10:51Isaiah Jackson.
10:53He's checked in for Los Angeles.
10:55Max Troos comes in for Ingram.
10:56Johnson.
10:57He's checked in for San Antonio.
11:02Spurs leading by three.
11:07And here is Harper.
11:08He has yet to score.
11:11And he sinks that one.
11:12Hitting the back of the rim on the way in.
11:16Now, the Clippers with it.
11:19Down low.
11:20Here's Jackson.
11:21And Jackson throws it down hard.
11:23Well, this is a good reminder for anybody who thinks he's too small for a five.
11:28His athletic ability totally levels the playing field.
11:32Now, here's Harper.
11:35Cornett gets to Harris.
11:40Harper against Dunn.
11:4216 feet away.
11:43And another basket for San Antonio.
11:46Smart use of the mid-range by Harper.
11:48A dynamic left.
11:50You can also show off the touch.
11:53Here's Jackson.
11:55Picks it out to Garland.
11:59Dunn.
11:59Wide open.
12:00And he fires.
12:02Outside.
12:03Jones.
12:04Jones.
12:04Tries yet again.
12:05It's good.
12:06The assist this time from Jackson.
12:14San Antonio's gone.
12:16Three of seven from three-point range in the first quarter.
12:21It's Vassell on the wing.
12:24Guarded by Garland.
12:26Johnson kicks to Vassell.
12:29Harris a screen on Garland.
12:30In the corner, it's Cornett.
12:33Six to shoot.
12:34Harris finds Vassell.
12:36Here's the three.
12:39It's hauled in by Dunn.
12:41The first trail by three.
12:43Oh, and there's the alley-oop.
12:45Trying to find Jones.
12:46He gets it to him.
12:51Dunn with it.
12:52Scoreless thus far.
12:57On the wing, Jackson.
12:59He's covered by Cornett.
13:01Here's Jones.
13:04San Antonio with the rebound.
13:07You know, for a young team, G.A., the Spurs play with a lot of points.
13:11Yeah, they avoid committing turnovers or fouls.
13:13And so that second point, they're not especially aggressive hunting steals.
13:18Instead, they are content to stay solid and force misses.
13:22And the Clippers have possession.
13:24Following the three-pointer by San Antonio.
13:26Garland, the pass to Dunn.
13:31Two free throws coming up, and they call the shooting foul.
13:35That one on Harper.
13:37The Clippers have gone two for two in the game at the line.
13:40At the line for Los Angeles, Chris Dunn.
13:44First one falls for him.
13:46So, for the Clippers, Brandon Ingram comes in for Max Struess.
13:49And Bradley Beal subbed in for Garland.
13:52San Antonio also making some changes.
13:55Barnes comes in for Tobias Harris.
13:57That's Bryant in for Vistel.
13:59Now, here's Harper.
14:05That one, no good.
14:07Clippers trail by four.
14:11To the paint.
14:12Jackson.
14:13That's in.
14:14Coming off an assist from Dunn.
14:16Dunn's got three assists now in this one.
14:19And so it's Harper with it.
14:21He brings it up for San Antonio.
14:24To the right side.
14:25It's going by Jones.
14:28And pushing it up.
14:30Here's Los Angeles.
14:32Up again.
14:33It's good on the putback.
14:36And that will tie this game up.
14:37I'll tell you what.
14:38He was on a mission on that possession.
14:41Did not stop working until he got it up and in.
14:44Harper with the ball.
14:45Jones covering.
14:47Goes up on the wing.
14:50Barnes bounce pass.
14:55Bryant looking over the floor.
14:57And stolen by Dunn.
15:00Here's Ingram.
15:01Jones trying to get open.
15:03And Ingram the bucket on the assist from Dunn.
15:06Dunn's got his fourth assist in this one.
15:09Let's look at the energy steps.
15:10How the hustle game has been going for the Clippers.
15:13And just a great job so far applying pressure defensively.
15:17The opposition is on their heels with the ball in their hand.
15:21Nightmares clamps thus far.
15:23And let's not forget their hustle.
15:26They've been running every chance they get.
15:29And that has led to easy scoring opportunities in transition.
15:33Now here's Beal.
15:35Dropping on the board.
15:36And it's good for two.
15:38Well that's very nice work there from the mid-ring.
15:41Beal just needing a little bit of daylight to find his comfort zone.
15:48It's a four-second differential between the shot clock and game clock.
15:51Harper pass to Johnson.
15:53And another turn.
